Drill feeding mechanism



July 14, 1936. J. 1 REILLY DRILL FEEDING MECHANISM v Filed April 50, 1954 I. x u

I I 'llrllmlmwln Patented July 14, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DRILL FEEDING yMECHANISM John L. Reilly, Claremont, N. Il., assignor to Sullivan Machinery Company, a. corporation of Massachusetts This .invention relates to feeding mechanism, and more particularly to improvements in the feeding mechanism of a rock drill Iof the mounted hammer type.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved rock drill feeding mechanism. Another object is to provide an improved feeding `mecha,- nism for a hamme-rtype 'rock dr-ill, wherein the drill is automatically fed by the vibrative action set up within the drill by the hammer-`motor- Another object is to provide an improved auto# matic rock ydrill feeding mechanism controlled by the vibrative action set up within the drill during the drilling loper-ation and having associated therewith 'im-proved recoil resistance means. `Yet another Eobect is 'to provide 1an improved rock drill feeding mechanism whereina feeding drum land cooperating cable .are employed jfor effecting drill iced, the drum having associatedtherewith improved recoil resistance means in the form of an intermittent grip device whereby drum `rotation is controlled automatically by 'the degree oi penetration oi the drill steel into 'the work. 'Sti-1l another object is to provide, in a feeding mechanism of the above character, improved means for regulating the rate of feed. These and other objects will, however, subsequently more fully appear.

'In the accompanying drawing, there is shown, for purposes of illustration, one iorm which'the invention may assume 'in practice.

In this drawingm Fig. 1 is 'a 'side elevational view Aof a rock jd-rilling mechanism having associated therewith an illustrative form of the improved Aautomatic': drill feeding mechanism. s i Y Fig. 2 "is a transverse vertical sectional View takenon line 2&2 tot Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 23a-3 of Fig. `2.

Fig. lisa detail sectional View, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2, showing the Vdrum reverse lock.

In this illustrative embodiment of the invenftion the improved automatic 'feeding mecha-'- nism, generally `iesigr'iated I, is shown embodied 'in a rock drilling mechanism jof Ythe wagonmounted tower type, although it will be evident that the improved feeding mechanismxmay be associated with drilling mechanisms o'f various other types. s The `drilling mechanism shown comprises a 'wheeled truck frame 2 mounted on wheels 3; and carried by this truck vframe is avertical guide frame or tower'4, suitably braced with respect` to the 'truck frame 'by means A4of brace rods 5. The

guide .frame or :tower 4 is provided with 'vertical guidewa'ys and mounted on this guide frame for movement along its guideways is a 'frame 6 supporting a rock drill 'I herein of the pressure iiuid actuated, reciprocating hammer piston impact '5. type, having an impact motor for percussively actuating a drill steel 8. 'rock -drill is oi a well known design, and as 'the particular construction of the rock drill 'does not enter into this invention, further illustration and description of l0 the *same are considered unnecessary other than to state thatas the hammer piston reciprocates under the action of pressure fluid, a vibrative action is set up within the drill in 'a direction longitudinally of the drin guideways, as is in- 15 herent in such drills.

In accordance with Athe present invention, means are provided to eiiect feeding of the rock drill in a direction longitudinally of its guiding frame by the jars or shocks to which the drill is 2'0 subiected upon `reversal of the hammer piston at the ends' 'of its stroke in the hammer motor cylinder, that is, to effect feeding of the drill by means controlled automatically by the vibrative action 'set up within the drill during the drill- 25 ing operation. The improved automatic feeding mechanism I comprises a supporting frame 9 secured, as by bolts Ill, to a transverse plate II suitably secured to the upstanding frames of the guide iframe or tower 4. Herein formed integral 30 with the frame 9 are projecting brackets I2, I2 having detachable caps I3, and which support the extremities of a horizontal shaft I4, this shaft being secured against rotative movement with respect to the brackets by means of usual keys I5.

Journaled on bearing sleeves I 6 supported by the shaftl4, 'and arranged between the brackets I2, I 2, is a 'cable winding drum Il having wound thereon or snubbed thereabout a feeding cable 40 I8. This cable has a portion I9 extendingupwardly from the drum I'I and passing around a guide sheave 2B journaled at the upper Vend of the guiding frame or tower, and the free end of this cable portion extends downwardly into connection at 2l to the guide frame 6 of the rock drill. The cable portion 22 extends downwardly from thedrum Il about a Aguide sheave 23 jour- `naled at the lower end of the guiding frame, and

the free end of this cable portion extends upwardly into connection, at 24, with the rock drill guide frame 6. The connections 2| and 24 with the rock drill guide frame may be made adjustable, as by threaded screw and nut connections or the like, so that the cable portions may be maintained at the desired tautness. In order to counterbalance the weight of the rock drill, there is provided a counterbalance weight 25 guided on the guide frame or tower at the opposite side thereof from the drill and connected, as by clamps or otherwise, to the portion I9 of the feed cable.

Associated with the cable-engaging feeding drum I1 is the improved recoil resistance means, herein in the form of a reversible intermittent grip device, generally designated 26. This intermittent grip device is herein in the form of a reversible roller gripping means comprising a roller carrier 21 keyed at 28 to the shaft I4 and arranged in a chamber 29 formed within the drum flange 30. 'I'his roller carrier 21 is provided with inclined surfaces 3l with which there are engageable one set of gripping rollers 32 normally urged towards their gripping position by coiled springs 33. Engageable with opposingly inclined surfaces 34 on the roller carrier 21 is a set of reversing rollers 35, normally urged towards gripping position by coiled springs 36. The carrier 21 is provided with lateral arms 31 having recesses 38 which receive and position the inner ends of the coiled springs. Rotatably mounted at 39 on the shaft I4 and forming a closure for the outer side of the chamber 29, is a rotatable reversing plate 49 having a suitable operating handle 4I. This plate 40 is provided with arm-like projections 42 which extend in the space 43 between the carrier 21 and the inner surface 44 of the drum flange 30 and between the rollers 32 and 35, in the manner shown in Fig. 3. This reversing plate has formed therein a bore 45 in which is guided a spring pressed locking plunger or latch 46 engageable with notches 41 formed in the shaft I4. This plunger is normally held in its locking position by a coiled spring 48 and is provided with a release stem 49 connected at 50 to a release lever 5I pivotally mounted within the grip portion of the handle 4 I.

When the roller reverse plate 40 is in the position shown in Fig. 2, with the projections 42 in their intermediate position, the gripping rollers are held in wedging engagement with the inclined surfaces 3|, 34 by their coiled springs, thereby causing a gripping engagement with the inner periphery of the drum flange 3U. When the roller reverse plate is rotated in one direction, the projections 42 engage one set of the rollers., releasing the same, so that the other set of rollers acts to control rotation of the drum in one direction. When the reverse plate 40 is moved into its reverse position, the other set of rollers is released, thereby to effect control of drum rotation in the opposite direction.

During certain stages in the operation of devices of this character it is at times desirable that the movement of the drill relative to its guide frame may be to some extent retarded or checked. This is particularly the case when first starting a drill hole, and also whenever soft rock is encountered during drilling, thereby to prevent too rapid penetration of the soft rock by the drill steel. In order, therefore, to insure against a too rapid feeding movement of the drill, there is provided on the drum flange 30 an external braking surface 53 with which there is engageable a brake band 54. One end of this brake band is secured at 55 to a lug 56 formed integral with the drum supporting frame 9, while the other end of the brake band is connected at 51 to an eye-bolt 58. This eye-bolt passes through an opening 59 formed in the lug 56 and is threadedly engaged by an adjusting nut 60 having an operating handle 6I. When the nut 60 is rotated by the handle 6I, the eye-bolt may be moved axially in one direction or the other, thereby to tighten or loosen the brake band as desired.

The operation of the improved feeding mechanism will be clearly apparent from the description given. Let it be assumed that pressure fluid is being supplied to the hammer motor and that the hammer piston is reciprocating to deliver impact blows to the drill steel 8, and that the hammer piston causes a vibrative action to be set up within the drill so that longitudinal jars or shocks are imparted to the drill guide frame 6. The operator then'releases the locking latch and grasps the handle 4I to rotate the reverse plate into forward feeding position, thereby releasing one set of the gripping rollers. The other set of gripping rollers controls drum rotation, so that as the shocks or jars set up within the drill are transmitted to the drum through the portion I9 of the feeding cable, the drum is permitted to rotate in only a forward feeding direction, the gripping rollers holding the drum against rotative movement in the opposite direction; and as a result, the drill will be gradually advanced towards the work in accordance with the degree of penetration of the drill steel into the work.

When it is desired to effect feed of the drill upwardly along the guiding frame, the operator grasps the handle 4I and rotates the reverse plate 40 into its opposite or reversing position, thereby releasing the forward feed rollers and rendering the reverse feed rollers operative. The vibrative action set up within the drill is then transmitted, through the cable portion 22, to the drum, and as the roller gripping device permits rotation of the drum only in the reverse feeding direction, the drill is gradually fed upwardly along the guideway.

If during the operation of the drilling mecha- 5 nism it may be found desirable to retard the movement of the drill relative to its guiding frame the brake 54 may be applied to retard the rotation of the drum, and as a result progress of the drill along its guided frame is retarded or checked.

It will'be evident that by adjusting the connections 2I and 24 of the cable with the drill, more or less slack may be placed in the cable portions, thereby to lessen the vibrative action thereon by the drill, and as a result the feed may thereby be varied. The counterbalancing weight 25, of course, facilitates upward feeding of the drill along its guide.

As a result of this invention, it will be noted that an improved rock drill feeding mechanism is provided which is entirely automatic so that the drill is fed automatically in accordance with the degree of penetration of the drill steel into the work. It will further be noted that an improved rock drill feeding mechanism is provided which is controlled automatically by the vibrative action set up within the drill during the drilling operation and having associated therewith improved control means whereby the feed may be regulated as desired. These and other advantages and uses of the invention will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While there is specifically described in this application one form which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form is shown for purposes of illustration only, and that the invention may be modified and embodied in Various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: Y

1. In a rock drilling mechanism, the combination with a hammer rock drill and a guiding frameY on which the rock drill is slidably guided, of feeding means for the drill controlled automatically by the vibratory action set up within the drill during the drilling operation, comprising a cable secured at its opposite ends to the drill, pulleys at the opposite ends of the guiding frame for guiding the cable, a snubbing drum journaled on said guiding frame and about which the intermediate portion of the cable extending between said guide pulleys is Wound, and intermittent gripping means for controlling the direction of drum rotation and reversible at will to control drum rotation in either of opposite directions to eiect drill feed in either of opposite directions along said guiding frame.

2. In a rock drilling mechanism, the combination with a hammer rock drill and a guiding frame on which the rock drill is slidably guided, of feeding means for the drill controlled automatically by the vibratory action set up within the drill during the drilling operation, comprising a cable secured at its opposite ends to the drill, pulleys at the opposite ends of the guiding frame for guiding the cable, a snubbing drum journaled on said guiding frame and about which the intermediate portion of the cable extending between said guide pulleys is wound, intermittent gripping means for controlling the direction of drum rotation and reversible at will to control drum rotation in either of opposite directions to eifect drill feed in either of opposite directions along said guiding frame, and drum braking means for controlling drum rotation to vary the rate of drill feed. l l

JOHN L. REILLY. 

